Latch



Oct. 17, 1939.

L. ANDERSON LATCH Original Filed April 2'7, 1937 I [Zayd Anderson/INVENTOR.

E5 ATITOIRNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1939 LATCH Lloyd Anderson, Grand Rapids,Mich assignor to National Lock a., Rockiord, Ill., a corporation ofDelaware Original application April at, 1931, Serial No. 139,131.Divided and this application January 26, 1938, Serial No. 187,053

Claims.

This invention pertains to latches and operating mechanism therefor andis a division of my copending United States application, Serial No.139,131, filed April 27, 1937 for Latch mechanism.

Among its important objects the invention includes the provision of alatch of general application and especially suited for use with utilityclosures and cabinets, such, for example, as rem frigerators and likedevices having automatically opening doors.

Another object is the'provision of a latch having a bolt mounted forboth pivotal and linear movement on a carriage slidably disposed in a115 housing for attachment to a door, the bolt having trip mechanismnormally locking the same against pivotal movement and tripping means inthe form of a rod seated at one end on the housing and having connectionat its other end with a handle, therod having a sleeve which is adt0justable pivotally of the axis of the rod, the sleeve having a lateralarm engageable withthe trip mechanism of the latch and spring meansembracing the sleeve and anchored on the housing for disposing thelateral arm in a normal tit position.

A further object of the invention is the pro vision of a latch having abolt normally locked in efiective position and having mechanism operableto free the bolt for movement .into inefiective position, the bolt beingmoved into such position by the opening of the door or closure withwhich it is associated.

Still another object is the provision of a latch of the characterdescribed and having a bolt ar- 35 ranged for sliding as well as pivotalmovement into and out ofeffectiveposition, the latch bolt, whenreleased, being pivoted momentarily out oi effective position by openingthe closure with which it is associated, and the latch bolt also beingmomentarily slid or cammed into ineifiective position by engagement witha strike plate when the door is closed.

Yet another object is the provision of a trip operating means for alatch and including a rod M having pivotal mounting at one of its endson the latch, the opposite end being connected with some form of handle,and there being a sleeve rotatable on the rod near the latch and havinga novel screw means for adjusting the sleeve pivdd otally, the sleevehaving a coil spring thereon anchored at one end on the latch and atanother end to trip means on the sleeve engageable with the latch, thespring normally disposing the trip means in inoperative position.

" II Other novel aspects and objects of the invention. will appear asthe tollowingdescription develops in view of the annexed drawings inwhich like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and inwhich: i

Fig. l is a rear vertical elevation of the latch and. lower portion 01'the operating rod structure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the latch, and is taken along lines2-2 of Fig. 1; w

, Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the'latch viewed in the direction oflines 8-! of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a horizontal section through the latch just above the bolt,and is taken along lines M of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal median section through the latch along lines 5-5of Fig. 1; while Fig. 6 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 5, andshows the bolt and spring recededby camming action of the keeper.

Describing first the novel latch with particular reference to Fig. 1,the same includes a housing or Jacket 21! substantially U-shaped crosssection and provided with oppositely extending mounting flanges 26through which are extended screws attaching the latch over a base-plateto the inside of the door ill, the latch housing being open at its ends,and having at one (right-hand) of these ends a pair oi diverging wingsor tabs 24 and 24' struck out from the opposite side walls of thehousing. The upper one of these latter side walls has an open-ended slotor cut-away portion 25 (Fig. 3) adjacent its rear edge and the ear 22. Abase plate 226 is positioned between the back of the housing and thedoor it (Figs. 2 and 3), and has an upturned ear 2% having an inwardlydirected spring-engaging boss 23.

The iatch bolt structure includes a sliding bolt carriage .i'l ofsubstantially U-shaped or channelshaped section (Figs. 2 and i) andfitted within the channel part oi the housing with its open ends facingthe open ends of the housing, and its open side or top facing the bottomor outer part it of the same. "Iihis bolt carriage 2? also has anopen-ended slot '28 communicating with its rearward upper edge andnormally underlying and aligned with the slot in the housing (Fig. 3),while the top free edge portions of the I carriage opposite its bottomare bent in to provide gliding flanges 2t (Fig. 2).

From the bottom of the bolt carriage is struck inwardly aspring-retaining ear (Figs. 2 and 4) having a boss like the boss 23 onthe base plate car 22, and in the assembly shown in Fig. 6, for example,a moderately strong compression spring ti is expanded between the car 22on the II base plate and the ear 3!! on the bolt carriage, urging thelatter to the right and into the position seen in Fig. 3, this outwardmovement being limited by an inwardly extending stopping boss 32 struckup from the base plate 26 (Fig. at a point spaced inwardly from itsright-hand edge.

The right-hand edge of the bottom of the bolt carriage is inset or cutaway, as at 33, to a depth just beyond the stopping boss 32 when theright end of the carriage 21 is flush or even with the right edge of thehousing 20, the stopping boss being raised sufficiently to confront thisedge and limit movement of the carriage toward the right.

A latch bolt 34 (Figs. 1 and 4) having a cam surface 35 has a pair ofspaced arms 36 which extend laterally away from the side of the bolt,and these arms 36 have registered openings through which is extended apivot pin 31 disposed between the sides of the carriage 21. Alatchreturn spring 38 embraces the pin 31 between the yoke-like arms 36of the bolt, and one end of this spring bears against an inner end ofthe bolt, while the opposite end bears against the carriage 21 so as topivot the bolt into effective position, that is to say, into a positionprotruding from, and substantially co-extensive with, the carriage.Thus, it will be evident in Fig. 6 that the bolt is urged in ananti-clockwise direction by the spring 38 and may be pivoted in aclockwise direction out of the way of the keeper and back into thecarriage.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 40 within the carriage and at an end oppositethe bolt, is a U- shaped latch member 4| having a pair of yoke arms 42(see particularly Figs. 1 and 4) disposed on its inner side nearest thebolt, and mounted between these arms 42 is a roller 43. A coil spring 44around the pin 46 normally urges the latch member and roller in ananti-clockwise direction with the roller bearing against an innerlatching part or surface 45 on the bolt 34-.

It will be observed that the pins 31 and 40 about which the bolt andlatch, respectively, pivot, are not in alignment, and that in its normalposition, as seen for example in Figs. 2 and 5, the vertical body orbight part of thelatch bears against the riding flanges 29 as at 39,thus rendering it impossible to pivot the latch member 4| in ananti-clockwise direction, which in turn renders it impossible to pivotthe bolt 34 in a clockwise direction, since any attempted pivoting ofthe bolt in this latter direction tends to pivot the roller and latch inthe opposite direction against the flanges 29.

However, by pivoting the latch in a clockwise sense, the roller 43 willbe moved out of the path of the end part 45 of the bolt, which thereuponmay be pivoted back into the carriage within the housing, it beingrecalled also that the carriage 21 may itself be pushed back into thehousing against the spring 3| with the same result.

Extended upwardly through the cut-away parts or slots 25 and 28 from thelatch member is an operating finger or pin 46 (Figs. 1, 3, 4)

which is engageable by a laterally extending arm or finger 41 on asleeve 48 adjustably attached to the lower end of a vertical operatingrod 60. At its lower axial end, the sleeve 48 is fitted upon a stud 6|secured to the top of the housing near the wing 24.

An adjustable connection between the sleeve and rod is effected in asimple manner by means of a pair of screws 62 and 63, each havingtapered or conical head portions 64, and each threaded radially into therod 60 through over-sized holes 65 (Figs. 1 and 3) circumferentiallydisplaced from each other in a direction around the sleeve.

Serving to rotate the rod 60 in an anti-clockwise direction into anormal position, and also serving as part of the above-mentioned noveladjustment feature, is a coil spring 66 embracing sleeve 48 at its lowerend and having one extremity 61 bent around the arm 41, while itsopposite end 68 is bent around a twisted ear portion 69 of the upperintegral wing 24 on housing 21. Thus a constant torsional effort isexerted on the sleeve 48 tending to turn it in an anti-clockwise senserelative to rod 60, and when the adjusting screws 62 and 63 areloosened, the sleeve will turn in this sense on the rod 60 until theshank of the screw 63 bears against the side of its corresponding hole65 in the sleeve. Adjustment is effected by tightening the screw 63until the tapered shoulder part thereof cams against the side of itscorresponding sleeve-hole and rotates the sleeve (clockwise) against thetension of the coil spring 66. This rotation will cause the arm 41 toapproach the operating pin 46, and when the desired spacing. isachieved, the remaining set screw 62 may be tightened to hold the sleeve48 rigidly in place on rod 60.

At its upper end the rod 60 is engaged either in some form of a bracketcompleting the pivotal mounting therefor, or with a handle or pivotingmechanism such as disclosed in the aforesaid copending application,Serial No. 139,131. Obviously any means may be utilized for pivoting therod 66, and the latch structure shown in Fig. 1 may therefore be usedwith any handle or operating mechanism which may be connected to the rod60 so as to effect pivotal movement of the same about its long axis.

Thus, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be apparent that if the rod 60is-pivoted from left to right or clockwise, the offset finger 41 willbear against the pin 46 and the latch bolt will be freed for subsequentpivotal movement by some other agency.

In Figs. 1 and 3, the latch and bolt are in normal locking position,while in Fig. 4 the rod 60 has been turned to free the bolt and thelatter has been pivoted back into its housing by the keeper 15 andparticularly by the nose portion 16 thereof, the door l1 beingautomatically swung out in the direction of the arrow by the springhinge.

It will be observed that the keeper has a sloped strike plate 11, andwhen the rod has been freed for return to normal by its spring 66 so asto reposition the roller 43 and latch the bolt, the bolt 34 can nolonger be pivoted. If now the door l1 be swung closedin the direction ofthe tracer arrow in Fig. 6, the cam surface of the bolt 34 will bearagainst the cam face 11 of the strike plate and the entire bolt carriage21 and bolt 34 will recede into the housing 20 against the compressionspring 3| until the bolt can pass the nose 16 of the keeper, whereuponthe bolt will quickly slide back into the keeper 15 behind the keepernose 16.

It will thus appear that I have pro'vided a latch and operatingmechanism therefor in accordance with the several objects hereinaboveset forth, and particularly a latch comprising a housing having a boltpivoted in a sliding carriage against the tension of a positioningspring, the carriage being positioned also by a spring, so that the bolttends at all times to be in effective position. 7!

and normally spring-urged into a position to block pivotal movement ofthe bolt, together with a handle having several degrees of freedom forreleasing movement and operable to move the lock memberinto ineffectiveposition which ever way the handle is moved.

The foregoing particularly described device sets forth only oneembodiment of the invention, and it is expressly provided that theappended claims are intended to embrace any and all modifications,rearrangements, and variations or combinations of the invention definedby the annexed claims, and coming within the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letterstioned means including a screw with a sloped shankportion threaded into said rod through an opening in said sleeve and orlarger diameter than the shank. of said screw, said screw beingthreadable into said rod to turn said sleeve in a direction opposite tothe aforesaid particular direction.

2. In combination with a latch, a latch-operating device including a rodhaving a radial tap, a sleeve fitted on said rod and adapted to turn onthe same, said sleeve having an opening for registering with said tap,spring means turning said sleeve to position the opening therein out ofregistration with said tap, a laterally extending latch-operating armon' said sleeve, and a screw having a shank of smaller diameter thansaid sleeve opening and extended through the latter into said tap andfurther having a tapered shoulder part .movable into said opening tobear against a sideoi' the same and turn said sleeve on said rodoppositely to the direction of turning eilfort of said spring means, andmeans for turning said rod.-

3. Latch operating means including a rod having a sleeve portion atoneend arranged for turning movement coaxiaily oi the rod, means on saidsleeve portion for operative engagement with a latch, and means forrotatively adjusting said sleeve relative'to said rod to adjust saidlatch operating means relative to a latch, saidadjusting means'includingthe provision of oflfset radial bores through said sleeve' into saidrod, said bores being offset in a circumferential sense and spaced apartin an axial sense relative to the rod and sleeve, and means adjustablymovable severally into and out of said bores for bearing engagementagainst circumferentially opposite marginal portions of the respectivebores through said sleeve to shift the latter opposite directions aboutsaid rod.

4. Latch operating means including a rod having a sleeve portion at oneand arranged for turning movement coaxially of the rod, means on saidsleeve portion for operative engagement with alatch, and means forrotatively adjusting said sleeve relative to said rod to adjustsaidlatch operating, means relative to a latch, said adjusting meansincluding the provision oi oi!- set radial bores through said sleeveinto said rod, said bores being oiiset. in a circumferential sense andspaced apart in an axial sense relative to'the rod and sleeve, and meansadjustably movable severally into and out of said bores for bearing.engagement against circumierentialiy opposite marginal portions of therespective bores through said sleeve to shiit the latter oppositedirections about said rod, said sleeve having means at its extremityremote from said rod for engagement with a mounting member, said rodhaving means at its end opposite said sleeve for engagement with anoperatingmember. I

5. An adjustableoperating device including a rod having 'a sleeveportion arranged thereon for rotative movement coaxially oi the rod,means for shifting said sleeve opposite directions about the rod, saidmeans including the provision of tapped radial bores in the rod spacedapart in an axial direction and offset relative to each other in acircumferential direction, said sleeve having openings for registrationwithsaid bores, and adjusting members each threaded intoone of saidbores through one of said sleeve openings and having camming portionsrespectiveiy emgageable with marginal parts of the correspondingopenings through said sleeve for camming the latter opposite directionsby movement of the threaded members into their respective bores,

and means on said sleeve for operative engagementwith a controlledinstrumentality.

6. An adjustable operating device including a rod having a sleeveportion arranged thereon for rotative movement coaxially of the rod,means for shifting said sleeve opposite directions about the rod, saidmeans including the provision or tapped radial bores in the rod spacedapart in an axial direction and offset relative to each other in acircumferential direction, said sleeve having openings for registrationwith said bores, and adjusting members each threaded into one of saidbores through one of said sleeve openings and having camming portionsrespectively engageable with marginal parts of the correspondingopenings through said sleeve iorcamming the latter opposite directionsby movement of the threaded members into their respective bores,

and means on said sleeve for operative engagement with a controlledlnstrumentality, said sleeve having means at its outermost end forsupporting engagement with a mounting member openings for registrationwith said bores, and

adjusting members each threadedinto one of said bores through one ofsaid sleeve openings and having camming portions respectively engageablewith marginal parts of the corresponding openings through said sleevefor camming the latter opposite directions by movement oi the threadedmembers into their respective bores,

and means on said sleeve for operative engagement with a controlledinstrumentality, said tion whereby said sleeve will automaticallybeturned in a particular direction by threading said threaded membersout of their respective bores. 8. A control device including a firstmember and a second member mounted on said first member for turningmovement coaxially of the latter, said first member having transversebores which are spaced apart in an axial direction and offset in adirection transverse to said axial direction, said second member havingopenings similarly oflset, adjusting members each severally movable intoand out of one of said bores through said openings in the second memberand having cam parts respectively engageable with opposite sides oftheir respective openings in said transverse direction for bearingengagement therewith to cam said second member in opposite directions ina direction about said first member, means on said second member foroperative engagement with a controlled device, said first-named memberbeing adapted for mounting to be turned about the axis of the same andsaid secondnamed member for effecting operation of said controlleddevice.

9. The combination, with a latch including a reciprocable actuatingelement, of adjustable operating means including an operating rod andmeans mounting the same to turn about its own axis, an adjustable membermounted on said rod for shifting motion in a direction about said rod,said member having a laterally extending arm arranged for cooperationwith said reciprocable element of the latch to actuate the latter whensaid rod is turned, and means operable to efl'ect shift ing movement ofsaid adjustable member and including members threadable through saidadjustable member into said rod and each spaced from the other in adirection about the rod, said adjustable member being provided withcamming, formations engaged by each of said threadable members forcoaction with the same to shift said adjustable member selectively inopposite directions responsive to the threaded adjustment of thethreadable members.

10. In a latch, adjustable operating means comprising an operating rodand means mounting the same for turning motion about its own axis, alatch actuating element arranged for cooperation with said latch andadjustable means attaching said actuating element to said rod forturning movement therewith and adjustable to shift said element indirections oppositely about said axis of the rod, whereby the turningmotion of the operating rod may be adjusted to actuate the latch in apredetermined manner.

